What to do with my S reg V6 Exclusive?

[Charles M]

Since I bought it last year this car has had one thing after another go wrong which I have sorted, so new ABS sensors and inceptor rings at the front, replacement condenser and regassing, new spark plugs, leads and coilpack, replacement osf window winder mechanism, and new front centre sphere and front comfort spheres. The car sailed through its MOT 2 months ago, but I took it to check a slight rattle on lock the other day, and the ramp inspection revealed front jacking points were of course bent over and rusty and having had it looked over the os sill will need complete replacement, with the usual plate needing welding on the front jacking point. The other side is much better, but a bit crusty in places. How it didn't get an advisory, yet alone a fail for this at the MOT is beyond me

I am fed up with this constant drip drip of money out the door. The car is black with black leather, has done 93000 miles and I just want rid. What does the collective think I should do? It has a full tank of petrol and one months road tax for valuation purposes! I don't want the hassle of dealing with tyre kickers and I'd rather it went to someone sensible.

[xmexclusive]

Hi Charles

Sorry to hear about the rust problems that you have now spotted.
The MOT man is required to use a tool with a specific size probe when looking for rust.
Any hole it makes will be large enough to be a MOT failure.
As I found out earlier this week the welder takes a sharp pointed pick and attacks the MOT holes until he has found enough solid metal to plate to.
The 15mm hole in the outer sill needed a 150mm by 50mm plate.
The central inner sill needed nearly a metre of L shaped angle.
The floor pan a carefully shaped 250mm by 75mm plate.
This on a car that had the four lifting points and associated floor pan welded two years ago by the previous owner.
For my work the welder had to move fuel lines and wiring out of the way, lift the drivers seat and carpets.
So 6 hours work plus materials.

I believe this sort of thing will eventually be a problem for the floor sill and subframe areas of all UK XM's.
The variable will be the time the rust takes to break through and be visible.
That is not down to an age related set of rules. It is much more random than that.

As I have just found repeated patch repairs as needed total a very expensive way to tackle this problem.
Typically the original galvanised steel sheet joints of the pan and sill area of an XM last 20 to 25 years before problems show.
The steel plate weld repairs will be lucky to last another 10 to 15 years.

I expect this rust problem to be the main reason why at least two thirds of the remaining UK XM's go to scrap over the next five to ten years.
By then XM's will be rare enough to be considered a classic.
Specialists will be doing CX and DS type chassis spot weld rebuilds with new pressed galvanised sills and floor pans.

The late V6 XM is a superb car but it seems to me the following is a bit smaller than the current availability despite the generally very low prices.
I hope someone on here takes it on.

John

[Eddie nuff]

I expect this rust problem to be the main reason why at least two thirds of the remaining UK XM's go to scrap over the next five to ten years.

That ain't gonna leave a lot left!

[Charles M]

Thanks John, that helps a lot.

I have decided what I am going to do with it. The tax disc expires at the end of July, so I am going to put it up for a low price here, enough that whoever buys it could sort it and still have a sensibly priced car, and if it doesn't sell by the end of July I'll remove as much stuff as I am able and scrap it.

[Charles M]

Looks like it's been sold almost immediately via Car and Classic

[MTXM]

It was quite a modest price Charles and especially with all the work you have done!! I wonder if WHM are the buyer? Regards, Matthew T.

[ragger]

Gosh that is quick. I had barely even begun to mull it over myself.

Even at very reasonable prices, I know from experience that V6s can be difficult to move on. But then I do have the handicap when it comes to changing cars, of living in the north east where there is next to no choice and very few buyers.

Well done.

[Charles M]

Private buyer who already has one XM 24v and two CXs! I pitched the price to make sale a no-brainer, I hate taking a loss, but with all my cars (apart from my Volvo and my diesel XM) needing things sorted I just ran out of space and time, and I can't fit two SORN vehicles into my life (getting in to my garage is a nightmare).

My big regret about the speed of the sale is I have a tank full of petrol that I won't be able to use in time - he's picking it up tomorrow!

Anyway, the diesel XM is being looked after well and will return sometime soon. In the meantime my Allard needs new rear brake seals (that is going up for sale) and a new fuel tank (perforated by rust), my 190 Cosworth has just been diagnosed with a totally rotten rear jacking point, my SM has just gone off on the back of a transporter to Holland to get the damage caused by an exploding brake disc fixed and my Range Rover needs to be fixed while there is still some steel on the car!

[CitroJim]

That was a quick sale Charles...

I hope mine goes as quickly!

[Charles M]

When you've got the strut tops done put it on Car and Classic Jim, there are none on there now! (if I get any more enquiries I'll point them in your direction.